Absolutely horrible work-life balance, you are expected to kill yourself in the field on a daily basis. Working hard just gets you more work added and no praise. Management is clueless on how to deal with people, you will literally be bullied and treated like a number in the budget ledger instead of a human being. You are talked at and not to when issues arise that need to be discussed. The treatment that I observed of some of my coworkers was absolutely despicable. Management would tell you how to do your job, while holding no degrees, field experience, or even an inkling of Arboricultural knowledge. Generally morale is low or no existent, it can be observed that people don't look forward to coming in every day. When review time comes for raises, despite all your hard work and sweat, management will find the tiniest reason not to even give you the cost of living raise, essentially meaning that you make less every year when factoring in inflation and other economic factors, but management is happy to collect a multi-thousand dollar bonus in which was earned through production and sales' hard work. I can't speak for other branches, but I would avoid Mountainside, NJ at all costs.
The company as a whole is growing at an exponential rate, which one may think is great. In reality, the inner support for the field workers has gone downhill. It seems the company now cares more about money and production, than doing actual honest tree work and PHC treatments. There was days where you would have a 20 stop route, work 12 full hours, and maybe not get two stops done, just to come in and get scolded for not working hard enough.
In light of these long days I requested a slight reduction in hours to allow for a bit more life on the work-life balance scale, but it is seen as a direct attack to management, like you reached into their wallet and took money out. After an unprofessional confrontation, HR was contacted. It was explained that I was very unhappy with the working conditions and I was told basically to suck it and keep working. It was that same day I updated my resume and started looking for a new job. HR is supposed to have your back, but completely failed me as well as other individuals in similar situations.
Offered insurance is not accepted any where, usually had to pay out of pocket for visits to my doctor. (I.e. is not cigna or blue shield, some no name insurance)
